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Topic: Pretty sure it's Barbini small swan... (Read 849 times)

Hi folks, I've got a pair of these I've had for a while. Fairly sure it's Alfredo Barbini work but thought I'd get a confirmation.

They both have 'issues'... This one as you can see has lost a bit of it's crown plumage. I could probably be somewhat repaired but I doubt it's worth the trouble. How much would you all think that affects it's value?

The other matching one I have is perfect other the cane that makes the eye was poorly applied on one side and looks odd. I just keep that side turned to the wall, LOL .

We'll work through the ID for the swan. The bill is large and the clear glass doesn't flow back from the bill to the crest, so it isn't Barbini. Barbini swans have a small, cute bill with glass that flows back elegantly to the crest. So that leaves us with either Salviati or Fratelli Toso. Fratelli Toso swans have rather plain crests and clumsy bubbles. Your bubbles are neat and well done. So your swan is Salviati. They made these swans both to be marketed by their own company and by Camer Glass. There are some pictures of three Salviati swans in the zoo at http://sites.google.com/site/muranozoo/birds-by-salviati. There are also pictures of Barbini and Fratelli Toso swans in the bird sections for the companies if you want to compare. Your bird was a bit more challenging than many because the bill looks like Fratelli Toso, but the rest of the swan looks like Salviati. Still I would say Salviati, but with a slightly thicker bill.

Let me change what I said about repairing it -- I would repair the swan, but I wouldn't spend a lot of money doing it. I would just get some good quality glass glue if I still had the glass that chipped off and repair it myself. The swans are pretty and they are expensive, but professional glass repairs are usually costly.

Thanks Anita. I see your point regarding the beak and the elegant flow of glass up to the crest in Barbini's swans. I don't have the tip of glass to glue back atop but I'm not too worried about it. I'll try to get a picture of the pair in decent light. -Buck